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Hi!, well you could go to Tanabe, Hokkaido and Iwama, I don't know if these places are far from where you are going to go but those places where essential for the creation of aikido. Well of course, also Hombu Dojo in Tokyo!.

Please check the internet or read up on the Kumano area of Japan before you go. There are many things to see and visit there. It is considered one of the very old and "spiritual" places in Japan and steeped in much tradition. Many important shrines and Nachi is one of the most sacred places in Japan and deeply revered from the most ancient times.

Ted lives in Japan and understands the internet I think the question is quite specific to the area and where Ueshiba M. went in that area. He asked the question on e-budo and basically got the same answers.

He was looking for information beyond the usual sources and I was quite interested in what the responses would deliver. Disappointed so far - no little known tidbits have come forth.

I really liked the Nachi Falls when I was there.

Fausto - I suggest you get a map of Japan. Hokkaido and even Iwama are far far to the North.

Sorry! If he lives in Japan, he should be able to get all kinds of information on Kumano. Any bookstore will have many tourist guides specific to the area. Nachi Falls and Kumano Jinja are what the area is known for and is generally what most people go there to see. If you read books on Japanese religion in very ancient times, you will find many references to the Kumano area and there might be a hint of something "unusual" there. The best thing is to take time and hike around on foot and discover for one's self.

I agree - but there really is very little information about where Ueshiba M. went although it can be assumed that he probably did go to the more popular sites.

I remember my last visit to Kumano Jinja on the day they had brought up a huge frozen Tuna and you were supposed to press coins onto it. I could not help but wonder if this tradition only went as far back as freezing technology. Somehow a large rotting fish didn't seem appropriate to a Jinja.

By the way I enjoy your posts in the VOE section. My co-worker points out that your first name is very classical - not quite sure what he meant by that.

Thanks! Yes, nowadays, Japanese has come up with all kinds of odd activities to celebrate their festivals and one wonders how old or how traditional they really are. At my own temple, several years ago, they had a sports car show as a event for Obon. Can you imagine?

I have always had a personal calling for the priesthood since I was very small and didn't know anything about religion of Zen. I became interested in Zen very early on and, largely, due to the influence of Ohsawa Sensei and Sawaki Kodo Roshi, I pursued my studies for many years and was eventually ordained in 1988 into the Soto Zen Sect. I received the "ken" in my name from my Zen master, the late Bishop Kenko Yamashita Roshi and the "sho" comes from my own personal Japanese name. I don't know why your friend says that unless he is referring to an old saying in Japanese, "haja kensho" or "obliterate evil and prolifereate righteousness." My name means, by some odd coincidence, "to promote righteousness or correctness." Isn't life strange?? Many thanks!